Thursday, 10 May 2012

Consultants appointed to study M'sia-S'pore rapid transit system

KUALA LUMPUR (May 10): Malaysia's Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) have appointed consultants to carry out architectural and engineering study on the proposed Malaysia-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS).

According to a joint press statement issued after the 9th meeting of the Malaysia-Singapore Ministerial Committee (JMC) for Iskandar Malaysia today, SPAD and the LTA had jointly awarded the tender for the RTS Link Joint Engineering study on May 2.

It said the study would determine the technical parameters for the RTS Link between Singapore and Johor Bahru in order to achieve a convenient and cost-effective system that is well-integrated with public transport services on both sides.

The architecture and engineering consultancy consists of two phases.

In Phase I, which is expected to be completed by end-2012, the consultant will look into technical parameters and propose options for the RTS Link.

The JMC for Iskandar Malaysia will then decide on the option to be further studied in Phase II.

The statement said the 9th JMC for Iskandar Malaysia was jointly chaired by Malaysia's Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop and Singapore's Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan.

The establishment of the JMC for Iskandar Malaysia was first announced by the prime ministers of Malaysia and Singapore in Langkawi following their meeting in May 2007, with the aim of facilitating cooperation between the two countries in relation to Iskandar Malaysia.

At today's meeting, JMC agreed to the adoption of the terms of reference for a newly formed work group on industrial cooperation to promote mutually beneficial twinning of economic activities between Iskandar Malaysia and Singapore.

At the January 2012 Leaders' Retreat, the two prime ministers have directed that the new work group to be formed for the cooperation.

The statement said the work group would focus on facilitating high value added projects in manufacturing and services sectors which include among others advanced materials manufacturing, electrical & electronics, food processing and creative services.

At the meeting, JMC also agreed to further strengthen bilateral collaboration on the environment and tourism.

Officials from both sides have agreed to continuously collaborate in capacity-building programmes in enhancing the skills and knowledge of officials involved in environmental management, environmental awareness and river cleaning.

Both sides will also explore additional tourism collaborations given the number of new attractions in Iskandar Malaysia and Singapore that are almost ready. — Bernama